You've created a Pickleheads session. Now you need people in it.
Pickleheads has several ways to do that, and this guide covers all of them.
Start here with the quickest one: sharing your invite link.
Share an Invite Link
Every session has a shareable link. Copy it and drop it anywhere — a WhatsApp group, a text thread, an email, GroupMe. Anyone who taps it can join your session directly.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Share an Invite Link.
- Copy the link, or tap the share button (app) to open your phone's share sheet. The link is pre-loaded and ready to paste.
- Drop it into your existing chat with a quick line of context. "Tap to sign up for tonight" or "join here" is enough.
Anyone who taps it can join your session directly. They don't need a Pickleheads account to sign up, though it's worth encouraging them to create one – it's free, takes about 30 seconds, and gets them access to the session chat and live standings.
💡 Good to know: Anyone who has it can join, even if your session is set to private. Share it only with people you want in the game. You can access this link at any time from your session page.
Prefer to watch? Here's a walkthrough video.
Looking for a different invite method? Here's every option:
| I want to... | Use this option |
|---|---|
| Drop a link into WhatsApp, texts, or email | Share an Invite Link → |
| Find players already on Pickleheads | Invite Players → |
| Send email or SMS invites to a list of contacts | Bulk Invites → |
| Invite an entire group I've already built | Invite Groups → |
| Save a list of phone numbers or emails to invite | Invite Lists → |
| Add players at the court or post a sign | Print a QR Code → |
| Put someone directly on the confirmed list | Add Players Manually / Bulk Add Players → |
Invite Players
This is the search option. Use it to find and invite players who are already on Pickleheads – people who play at your local courts, players you've shared a session with before, or anyone nearby.
You'll see a list drawn from a few sources: people you've previously played with, players in groups you're in, anyone who follows the same courts you follow, and nearby players. The more active you are on Pickleheads, the more populated this list gets.
If the list looks empty, it usually means you haven't followed any courts yet. That's the quickest fix.
- Follow your local courts. From the nearby tab in the app, search for the courts you play at and tap Follow. Once you follow a court, players who also follow it start appearing in your Invite Players search.
- Now, you can search by name or scroll to browse. You can filter by skill level to narrow it down.
- Tap Invite next to anyone you want to add. They'll get a notification with a link to join your session.
💡 Good to know: Following courts doesn't just help with invites – it connects you with your local pickleball community over time.
Prefer to watch? Here's a walkthrough video.
Bulk Invites
Use this when you have a list of emails or phone numbers and want to send invites to everyone at once. It's a good fit for a first session if you have contacts outside Pickleheads and want to skip adding them one by one.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Bulk Invites.
- Paste in your email addresses or phone numbers.
- Tap Invite. Everyone on the list gets a notification with a link to join.
💡 Good to know: Players without a Pickleheads account can still join a free session from the invite – no account needed on their end. They can create one later.
⚠️ Important: Phone number invites are supported for the US and Canada only. Use email for international players.
Invite Groups
If you've built a Pickleheads group, this is how you invite all of its members to a session in one go. It's the fastest way to fill a recurring game once your group is set up.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Invite Groups.
- Select the group you want to invite.
- Tap Invite.
Don't have a group? Here's how to set up a group on Pickleheads.
💡 Good to know: If your session has a skill level range set, only members within that range will be invited. Anyone in your group without a rating on their profile is treated as 2.0.
Invite Lists
Player Lists are private rosters only you can see. Build one once and invite everyone on it with a single tap – useful for segmenting your players too, like a main group, a backup list, or a more advanced crew.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Invite Lists.
- Select the list you want to invite.
- Tap Invite. Players on the list get a notification with a link to join.
💡 Good to know: Nobody on your list knows they're on it or what the list is called. It's entirely private to you.
Don't have a list yet? Here's how to create your first Player List.
Prefer to watch? Here's a walkthrough video.
Print a QR Code
QR codes are for when players are right there with you. No link to track down, no text to send – they scan, they're in.
On the app (you're at the court):
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → QR Code. The code appears on your screen.
- Hold your phone up and let players scan. They land on the session page and tap Join.
On web (you want something to print):
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Print a QR Code. This generates a printable flyer with the QR code and session details.
- Print it and bring it to the court. You can also post it at a front desk or bulletin board for a recurring session.
💡 Good to know: Groups have QR codes too. A group QR is great for a permanent sign at a regular court – players scan once to join your group, and from there you can invite them to every future session automatically.
Prefer to watch? Here's a walkthrough video.
Add Players Manually / Bulk Add Players
These two options work differently from everything above. Instead of sending an invite that players act on, they put someone directly onto the confirmed list. Use them when someone's already committed and you just need to lock them in.
Add Players Manually
Good for a player who texted to say they're coming, or someone who showed up at the court.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Add Players Manually.
- Search by name if they're already on Pickleheads. Or tap Add a Player Manually to enter a name directly.
- Add an email or phone number if you have it. Not required unless it is a league session, but it lets the player get notified and connect their entry to a Pickleheads account when they're ready. A name-only entry works fine for the day.
- Tap Add.
Bulk Add
Good for adding a large group directly to the confirmed list at once – faster than one-by-one.
- On your session page, tap Invite Players → Bulk Add Players.
- Tap Download Template and fill it in. First name and last name are required. Email and skill rating are optional but worth including.
- Upload the CSV. Players land on the confirmed list. If you're already at capacity, overflow goes to the waitlist automatically.
💡 Good to know: Including email with a manual or bulk add lets each player get notified and eventually link their spot to a Pickleheads account – worth the extra column.
Prefer to watch? Add Players Manually | Bulk Add Players
Once your players are in, you're one step closer to running your session. If you're running a round robin, check out our helpful guide for everything you need to know on game day.
You're good to go.
